Bungku in Indonesia

The Bungku have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bungku (also called "To Bungku") live in the districts of North Bungku, Central Bungku, South Bungku and Menui, in the Poso regency of Central Sulawesi province. They are also found in several other areas of Sulawesi. The Bungku people are further divided into subgroups: Lambatu, Epe, Rete and Ro'Uta. The language used by this group is called Bungku, which has the following dialects: Bungku, Routa, Tulambatu, Torete (To Rete), Landawe and Waia. The Bungku language is part of a larger linguistic grouping called the Eastern Bungku-Tolaki subfamily which also includes the Moronene, Kulisusu, Taloki, Koroni, Wawonii, Bahonsuai and Mori languages. The immigrant communities in this area use their own languages, such as Bugis, Bajau and Javanese. Many marriages take place between the Bungku people and the immigrant peoples, hence the relationship between the groups is relatively good in this region.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bungku make their living as farmers. They grow rice, corn and sweet potatoes as their primary crops and coconuts and sago palm trees as their secondary crops. The Bungku also harvest resin and rattan from the thick jungles that still exist in their area. Their land is typically less fertile than other areas of Southeast Sulawesi. Formerly, Bungku communities were segregated into three classes. The heads of the village formed the elite group. The common people formed the middle group. The slaves were the final and lowest group. In the past, the Bungku people lived in remote inland areas and had little contact with outsiders. With the building of the Trans-Sulawesi highway, they have become more open to outsiders. Although they are inhabitants of Southeast Sulawesi, their culture is greatly influenced by the Bugis culture of South Sulawesi. According to history, some of the Bungku ancestors were a group of Bugis who migrated to the area.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Bungku have embraced Islam. At the same time, older traditional animistic beliefs are still maintained. For instance, the Bungku still believe in various kinds of spirits and practice various rituals to either pacify or control them. They often ask a dukun (shaman) to intercede with the spirits on their behalf.


What Are Their Needs?

At the present time, the Bungku need assistance and training to manage their coconut, resin and rattan plantations more professionally. Outside training by professionals who would not exploit the Bungku people would be a great contribution to their economic development. Until now, management of these plantations has been done through traditional methods, which have been hampered by insufficient infrastructure. The roads that link the regency capital, Poso, with other surrounding plantation areas such as Beteleme, Bunku, North Lore and South Lore are very deficient. Above all, many investors are needed to develop these plantation areas. Inexpensive medical care and medicine are needed in rural areas. Because of financial obstacles and other factors, the Bungku people only seek medical help in cases of emergency.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Bungku in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   IPN, 2011   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Bungku
People Name in Country Bungku
Alternate Names Mapute; Torete; Tulambatu
Population this Country 40,000
Population all Countries 40,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11019
ROP3 Code 101750
ROP25 Code 301480
ROP25 Name Bungku
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 33  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Banda Sea, Sulawesi Tengah Province, Bungku Utara, Bungku Tengah, and Bungku Selatan subdistricts, along coast from Mondeodo south to Kenduri area, around 45 villages; northern Sulawesi Tenggara Province, Konawe regency, Asera, Soropia, and Lasolo subdistricts; Tulambatu and Kenduri areas inland; interior enclave southeast of Lake Poso.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 33  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Banda Sea, Sulawesi Tengah Province, Bungku Utara, Bungku Tengah, and Bungku Selatan subdistricts, along coast from Mondeodo south to Kenduri area, around 45 villages; northern Sulawesi Tenggara Province, Konawe regency, Asera, Soropia, and Lasolo subdistricts; Tulambatu and Kenduri areas inland; interior enclave southeast of Lake Poso..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Bungku in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bungku (40,000 speakers)
Language Code bkz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bungku (40,000 speakers)
Language Code bkz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bungku

Primary Language:  Bungku

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  Azmi Pamungkas - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source IPN, 2011  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.